System and method for playing a game of chance having a base game and a bonus game

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the invention include method and system for providing a bonus game of chance in conjunction with a plurality of base games of chance over a plurality of gaming locations. The bonus game is associated with a vault including a bonus prize and a secret combination of discrete elements. A player is qualified to participate in the bonus game upon meeting at least one winning criterion on the base game of chance. An input device is provided to be presented to the player, wherein the player inputs a guess at the secret combination. The player guess at the secret combination is then received through the input device and a determination is won as to whether the bonus prize is won based on the secret combination, the player guess, and a matching criteria associated with the secret combination.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e)(1) toprovisional application No. 60/854,720, filed Oct. 27, 2006.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates generally to playing a bonus game of chance andmore particularly to a method and system for playing a game of chancethat offers bonus prizes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Games of chance have been enjoyed by people for thousands of years andhave especially grown in popularity over the past few decades. Thegrowth of the gaming industry in places such as Las Vegas and AtlanticCity and development of large casinos and resorts have helped attracttourists from all over the world. As in most industries, however, thegaming industry has seen fierce competition amongst the casinos toattract customers. This has led many of the larger casinos to provide awide range of entertainment attractions, such as concerts, magic shows,and even theme parks, in order to draw players to their gaminglocations.

One marketing method used by casinos to draw players is by providingbonus games such as progressive jackpots in conjunction with theircasino games that allow any player, even those playing on low-wager slotmachines, to win large amounts of money. Players involved in games ofwagering often enjoy playing the games with relatively simple rules witha chance of winning very large cash prizes. One such bonus game, forexample, that has been implemented in some casinos is a game of wheel offortune, where a player playing a game of video poker or alike canparticipate in the bonus game by spinning a wheel, according to whichthe player may win additional bonus prizes.

In many instances, the bonus prizes are progressive jackpots, where apercentage of every player's wager is contributed to the bonus prize.Although many players are attracted to such games because of the chanceof winning a large prize, many others find objectionable having tocontribute to a jackpot that they have little chances of winning.Accordingly, in many casinos and taverns, the owners pay the bonus prizepurely as an incentive to players, without seeking direct playercontribution to the bonus prize.

A problem with this promotion method, however, is that large casinos canafford to pay out large cash bonus prizes, leaving smaller taverns andcasinos unable to compete. For example, while larger bonus prizesexceeding $50,000 are being paid in many of the large casinos in LasVegas, most small taverns in Nevada cannot afford to pay bonus prizeslarger than $1,000. As a result, smaller taverns and casinos may belosing their local customers to large casinos. Accordingly, there is aneed for a gaming system and method that would enable smaller casinos topayout large bonus prizes in order to compete with the larger casinos inattracting players.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order solve the problems associated with the conventional gamingpromotion methods, embodiments of present invention comprises a gamingsystem and method for providing a bonus game in conjunction games ofchance.

In an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method for providing abonus game of chance in conjunction with a plurality of base games ofchance over a plurality of gaming locations, the bonus game beingassociated with a vault comprising a bonus prize and a secretcombination of discrete elements, the method including: qualifying aplayer to participate in the bonus game upon meeting at least onewinning criterion on the base game of chance; providing an input deviceto be presented to the player, wherein the player inputs a guess at thesecret combination; receiving the player guess at the secret combinationthrough the input device; and determining if the bonus prize is wonbased on the secret combination, the player guess, and a matchingcriteria associated with the secret combination.

In an further embodiment of the invention, the player is qualified toparticipate in the bonus game if the player meets a minimum wagerrequirement in the base game. In an exemplary embodiment, the inputdevice is activated for entry of one guess at the secret combination anddeactivated after receiving the player guess at the secret combination.In an exemplary embodiment, an element of the secret combination isrevealed periodically to increase the probability of satisfaction of thematching criteria.

In one embodiment of the invention, an amount of the bonus prize mayincrease periodically and be reset to an initial value after the bonusprize is won. The amount of the bonus prize may be increased by apredetermined amount at predetermined time periods, where thepredetermined time periods include at least one of daily, weekly, ormonthly, and the predetermined amount includes at least one of fivepercent, ten percent, or twenty percent of the initial value.

In an exemplary embodiment, the matching criteria is defined in terms ofa number of elements of the secret combination that must match theplayer guess or an order in which the elements of the secret combinationmust match the player guess. In an exemplary embodiment, the matchingcriteria may include correctly guessing every element of the secretcombination in sequence, correctly guessing every element of the secretcombination in any order, correctly guessing a portion of the secretcombination in sequence, or correctly guessing a portion of the secretcombination in any order.

In an further embodiment of the invention, the prize includes a firstprize being associated with a first matching criteria and a second prizebeing associated with a second matching criteria. The second prize mayinclude a smaller amount than the larger prize and the second matchingcriteria may have a higher probability of satisfaction than the firstmatching criteria. In an exemplary embodiment, both the first and thesecond prizes are reset if the first prize is won based on the firstmatching criteria, but only the second prize is reset if the secondprize is won based on the second matching criteria.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the bonus game isfinanced by keeping a count of the number of guesses taken at the secretcombination at each of the one or more gaming locations within apredetermined time period and receiving an amount of contribution fromthe respective gaming location based on the count.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda gaming system for providing a bonus game of chance in conjunction witha plurality of base games of chance over a plurality of gaminglocations, the bonus game is associated with a vault comprising a bonusprize and a secret combination of discrete elements, the systemincluding: a central bonus mainframe coupled to a plurality of localcomputers at the plurality of gaming locations, each of the plurality oflocal computers being coupled to a plurality of game stations within therespective gaming location and being adapted to qualify a player toparticipate in the bonus game upon meeting at least one winningcriterion on the base game of chance; and a plurality of input devices,each provided within one of the gaming locations, each input devicebeing coupled to the central bonus mainframe through a network and beingadapted to receive a player guess at the secret combination from theplayer. The central bonus mainframe determines if the bonus prize is wonbased on the secret combination, the player guess, and a matchingcriteria associated with the secret combination.

In an exemplary embodiment, the game stations include slot machinesembodying a game of video poker and the winning criterion includes atleast one of a three of a kind, a straight, a flush, a full house, afour of a kind, a straight flush, or a royal flush.

In an exemplary embodiment, the system further includes a plurality ofoutput interfaces provided within the gaming locations, each outputdevice being coupled to the central bonus mainframe and being adapted todisplay at least one of a machine ID or a machine location of the gamestation on which a player qualifies to participate in the bonus game.The input device is activated for one guess at the secret combinationand again deactivated after receipt of the player guess at the secretcombination from the player. In an exemplary embodiment, the inputdevice includes a portable pad adapted to be presented to the player toinput the player guess at the secret combination.

In an exemplary embodiment, the system also includes a plurality ofdisplay screens, each provided on one of plurality of game stations, thedisplay screen being adapted to display at least one of informationabout the bonus game, a current bonus prize amount, or information aboutthe secret combination.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a methodof promoting gaming, comprising: providing a bonus game of chance inconjunction with a plurality of base games of chance over a plurality ofgaming locations, the bonus game being associated with a vaultcomprising a bonus prize and a secret combination of discrete elements;qualifying a player to participate in the bonus game upon meeting atleast one winning criterion on the base game of chance; providing aninput device to be presented to the player, wherein the player inputs aguess at the secret combination; receiving the player guess at thesecret combination through the input device; and determining if thebonus prize is won based on the secret combination, the player guess,and a matching criteria associated with the secret combination.

Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention overthe prior art will become apparent from the detailed description of thedrawings which follows, when considered with the attached figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary block diagram of a system for managing andoperating a bonus game throughout a plurality of gaming locations inconjunction with a plurality of base games of chance, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of the association between a plurality ofpromoters, vaults, and gaming locations, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 depicts an alternative embodiment of the present invention, inwhich each vault is associated with one or more gaming locations.

FIG. 4 depicts a system of operation of a bonus game of chance within asingle gaming location, according to an exemplary embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary association of the various bonus prizes witha secret combination of a vault, according to an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 6 depicts a exemplary process flow chart for operating the basegame in a gaming location in conjunction with the bonus game, accordingto an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary process flow chart for playing the bonusgame after the player has qualified.

FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary process flow chart for awarding the bonusprizes after a player has correctly guessed the secret combination.

FIGS. 9A-9E show an exemplary embodiment of a secret combination havingone element revealed periodically, according to an exemplary embodimentof the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail below. Indescribing embodiments, specific terminology is employed for the sake ofclarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to thespecific terminology so selected. While exemplary embodiments arediscussed in this description, it should be understood that this is doneso for purposes of illustration only. A person of ordinary skill in theart will recognize that other methods and configurations can be adoptedwithout parting from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Turning now to the drawings and referring initially to FIG. 1, there isshown an exemplary system for managing and operating a bonus game over agaming network 100 throughout a plurality of gaming locations inconjunction with a plurality of base games of chance, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. In an exemplaryembodiment, the network 100 involves a plurality of gaming locations (1to N), each including one or more base games of chance (G1 to Gn), and acentral bonus mainframe 10. A promoter operating the central bonusmainframe 10 offers the bonus game of chance as an incentives forplayers to play the base games of chance (G1 to Gn) at the gaminglocations. Each of the gaming locations (1-N) may also include a localcomputer 20, which is securely coupled to the central bonus mainframe 10though a network such as, for example, the Internet. The central bonusmainframe 10 operates a bonus game of chance in association with thegaming locations (1 to N). A player attending one of the gaminglocations (1 to N) may qualify to participate in the bonus game ofchance if they play one of the base games of chance (G1 to Gn) and meeta certain winning criteria. In an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, a promoter may operate the bonus game from a single locationwithout utilizing the central bonus mainframe 10.

FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of the association between a plurality ofpromoters, vaults, and gaming locations, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the invention. An exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention including one or more promoters (P₁-P_(n)), each promotermanaging and operating one or more bonus games of chance. Each bonusgame of chance is associated with a vault (V₁-V_(n)). As defined herein,a vault comprises one or more prizes, for example, a cash prize. A vaultcan be opened for accessing the one or more cash prizes by winning acorresponding bonus game. For example, the vault might correspond to abonus game of a secret combination, where a player can open the vaultand win one or more of the vault prizes by correctly guessing all or aportion of the secret combination. In an exemplary embodiment, eachvault (V₁-V_(n)) is associated with a group of gaming locations(L₁-L_(n)), (L′₁-L′_(n)), etc., respectively, and each vault (V₁-V_(n))is associated with a secret combination that allows a player to open thevault, i.e., to win the bonus game of chance associated with the vaultand thereby win the contents of the vault.

FIG. 3 depicts an alternative embodiment of the present invention, inwhich each vault (V₁-V_(n)) is associated with one or more gaminglocations (L₁-L_(n)). Each gaming location (L₁-L_(n)), in turn, isassociate with one or more vaults (V₁-V_(n)). In this embodiment, thegaming locations may operate multiple bonus games of chance inconjunction with multiple vaults (V₁-V_(n)). For example, as depicted inFIG. 3, location L₂ operates two bonus games of chance associated withV₁ and V₂.

FIG. 4 depicts a system of operation of a bonus game of chance within asingle gaming location, according to an exemplary embodiment of theinvention. In an exemplary embodiment, the local computer 20 within agaming location is connected to one or more game stations 22, aninformation input device 24, and an information output device 26. Thegame station 22 operates a base game that the player plays in order toqualify for participation in the bonus game. In one exemplaryembodiment, the game station 22 is a machine running a game of videopoker. However, game stations running various games of chance such as,e.g., classic 777 Heaven, Magic Wheel, Wheel of Fortune, etc. may alsobe used in embodiments of the invention. Further, the base game ofchance in embodiments of the invention may include live casino games,such as a live game of blackjack or poker, allowing a player to qualifyfor the bonus game upon the player meeting a certain winning criteriathat is game-dependent.

In an exemplary embodiment, the input device 24 may be a keyboard or apad containing digits, numbers, or other symbols that can be enteredsequentially. The connection between the local computer 20 and the inputdevice 24 may be wired or wireless. The output device 26 may be aprinter, a monitor, or any other output device.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a player playing a basegame on a game station 22 qualifies to participate in the bonus game bymeeting a certain winning criteria. For example, the winning criteriafor a game of video poker may be set to a four of a kind. Thus, when aplayer playing on a base station 22 operating a game of video poker hitsa four of a kind, the player becomes eligible to play the bonus game. Insome embodiments of the present invention, in addition to meeting thewinning criteria, a minimum wager in the base game may be required inorder for the player to qualify for the bonus game.

According to one embodiment, the bonus game is associated with a vaultthat includes at lease one cash prize that can be won by correctlyguessing a secret combination. A secret combination is uniquelyassociated with the vault and includes a plurality of elements, e.g.,digits, letter, or other symbols. When a player meets the winningcriteria on the base game 22 and qualifies to play the bonus game, he ispresented with the opportunity to guess the secret combination. In anexemplary embodiment, the secret combination has six elements comprisingdigits in the range of 0 to 9. The qualified player is presented with aninput device for entry of digits 0 through 9. The player can guess thecombination by entering the digits one at a time on the input device. Ifthe entered combination matches the secret combination, the player winsa bonus prize from the vault associated with that secret combination.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the input device 24presented to the player may be a keypad comprising a plurality ofdigits, letters or symbols. In other embodiments, the input devices maybe implemented on or adjacent to the game station, allowing thequalifying player to input the combination directly from the gamestation.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the vault comprises twotypes of bonus prizes—a grand prize and a consolation prize. Both thegrand prize and the consolation prize start at a minimum prize and areprogressively increased as the game continues. The amount of the grandprize is typically higher than the amount of the consolation prize. Inone embodiment, the increases are periodic, for example, once a week. Inan exemplary embodiment, the grand prize starts at $50,000 and theconsolation prize starts at $20,000. Also, in an exemplary embodiment,the grand prize is increased by $10,000 and the consolation prize isincreased by $5,000 every week. It should be noted that the grand prizeand consolation prize do not have to increase concurrently. One prizecould be increased according to one period and the other according toanother period. The central bonus mainframe 10 is responsible forkeeping account of the various prizes in the vault. When any of theprizes are won, that prize is reset to its starting value.

In one embodiment of the present invention, as depicted in FIG. 4, thegame station 22 comprises a display screen 27 which displays the updatedamount of the various bonus prizes. For instance, in the exemplaryembodiment discussed above, the display screen 27 displays the amount ofthe grand prize and the consolation prize. In a further embodiment, thedisplay screen 27 may be configured to display a message to the playerupon the player qualifying to play the bonus game, alerting him to waituntil he is presented with the input device. In a further embodiment,the display screen 27 may be configured to display a congratulatorymessage to the player upon the player winning a bonus prize by guessingthe correct secret combination.

According to one embodiment of the invention, when a player meets thewinning criteria for the base game, the game station 22 notifies thelocal computer 20 that a player has qualified to participate in thebonus game. The local computer 20 outputs information such as thelocation or ID of the winning game station to the output interface 26,which may be a printer, a monitor, or other means of outputting theinformation. An attendant then reviews the information and takes theinput device 24 over to the game station matching the location or the IDof the winning game station, where the player inputs his guess at thesecret combination on the input device 24. In another embodiment, eachgame station 22 may comprise an input device (not shown in the figure),allowing the player to input his guess at the secret combinationdirectly on the game station, without the need for an attendantphysically presenting the input device to the player.

Still another embodiment of the present invention comprises a siren 28connected to the game station 22 that sounds upon the player qualifyingto play the bonus game. The siren notifies the surrounding crowd, aswell as an attendant, that a player has qualified to play the bonusgame. The attendant then brings the input device 24 to the game station22, allowing the player to input his guess at the secret combination onthe input device 24. The siren 28 may also be implemented with otherembodiments of the present invention to attract or alert the surroundingcrowd and the attendant when a player qualifies to play the bonus game.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is depicted an exemplary association of thevarious bonus prizes with a secret combination of a vault, according toan embodiment of the invention. In an exemplary embodiment, each vaultincludes at least one bonus prize and at least one secret combination.Each secret combination is associated with one or more bonus prizes. Inthe exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, grand prize 1 andconsolation prize 1 are associated with secret combination 1, grandprize N and consolation prize N are associated with secret combinationN, and so on. For each association of a bonus prize and a secretcombination, there is designated a combination matching criteria. Thecombination matching criteria identifies the circumstances under whichthe player's guess at the combination constitutes a winning of the bonusprize. For example, in shown in FIG. 5, the GP combination matchingcriteria 1 could be “entering all six digits correctly in sequentialorder,” whereas the CP combination matching criteria 1 could be“entering five of the six digits correctly in sequential order.” Anotherexample of the CP combination matching criteria 1 could be “entering allsix digits correctly in any order.”

In an embodiment of the present invention, the elements of thecombination may be given any order. A player can win the grand prize bycorrectly guessing every element of the secret combination in asequential order. Alternatively, a player who fails to guess everyelement of the secret combination may still win the consolation prize ifhe correctly guesses a portion of the sequence of the secretcombination. For example, in the above exemplary embodiment where thesecret combination is six elements comprising digits from 0 to 9, theplayer may win the grand prize by correctly guessing all 6 elements ofthe secret combination in correct order. However, even if the playerdoes not guess the right combination of the grand prize, he can stillwin the consolation prize if he correctly guesses 5 of the 6 elements incorrect order.

FIG. 6 depicts a exemplary process flow chart for operating the basegame in a gaming location in conjunction with the bonus game, accordingto an embodiment of the invention. The process begins by receiving aplayer wager at a game station in order to play the base game, block 30.The base game is then executed on the game station, block 32.Thereafter, a determination is made as to whether the player wins orloses according to the rules of the base game, block 34. For example, ina game of video poker, a player may win by hitting 2 pair, 3 of a king,straight, 4 of a kind, etc. This determination is made based on a set ofwinning criteria of the base game. If the player wins the base game, theamount of winnings are awarded or credited to the player, block 36.Otherwise the player continues playing the base game, block 30.

If the player wins the base game, he or she may then qualify to play thebonus game. In an exemplary embodiment, one or more of the winningcriteria of the base game is selected for qualifying the player for thebonus game. For example, in a game of video poker, the winning criteriafor the bonus game may be a four of a kind or better. After the playerhas been credited with the winnings for the base game, a determinationis made as to whether the player has met the bonus game winningcriteria, block 38. In a further embodiment of the invention, inaddition to satisfying the winning criteria of the bonus game, theplayer may also have to satisfy a minimum wager amount in order toqualify for the bonus game. If met, the player is qualified toparticipate in the bonus game, as depicted in the exemplary process A ofFIG. 7, block 40. For example, in a game of video poker the player mayparticipate in the bonus game in addition to winning credits awarded bythe base game itself by meeting the winning criteria of a four of a kindfor the bonus game as well as meeting a minimum wager requirement ifthere is one. If the player doesn't qualify for the bonus game, the basegame continues, block 30.

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary process flow chart for playing the bonusgame after the player has qualified. The local computer determines themachine ID of the game station on which the player has qualified to playthe bonus game, block 41. The local computer then outputs the machine IDto the output interface in order to notify an attendant of a qualifyingplayer, block 42. Simultaneously, the local computer activates the inputdevice to receive a single guess at the secret combination, block 43.The input device is then presented to the player at the game stationmatching the machine ID, and the player's guess at the secretcombination is received through the input device, block 44. Thereafter,a determination is made as to whether the player's guess at the secretcombination matches any of the winning combinations, block 45. In anexemplary embodiment, a prize is won if the player correctly guesses allsix digits of the secret combination in correct sequence for a grandprize or five of the six digits in correct sequence for a consolationprize. If the player's guess is not a winner, the player is alerter thatno bonus' have been won, block 46. If the player's guess matches thewinning combination, the player is awarded a prize as depicted in theexemplary process of FIG. 8, block 50. Notwithstanding whether theplayer wins or loses any bonus prizes, the input device is deactivatedafter one input by the user so that the user is given only one shot atguessing the combination, block 47.

FIG. 8 depicts an exemplary process flow chart for awarding the bonusprizes after a player has correctly guessed the secret combination.After the player guesses the combination, a determination is made as towhether the player has won the grand prize, block 51. If the grand prizeis won, the player is awarded the grand prize, block 52. In oneembodiment, the attendant may take the player's information and submitthe information to the promoter, who then delivers the prize to theplayer. In another embodiment, the gaming location may pay the playerthe amount of the winning prize and later be reimbursed for that amountby the promoter. Thereafter, the amount of both the grand prize and theconsolation prize are reset to their original amount, block 53.

If the grand prize is not won, a determination is made as to whether theplayer has won the consolation prize, block 54. If no consolation prizeis won, the player is notified that he did not win a prize, block 55. Ifthe consolation prize is won, the player is awarded the consolationprize, block 56. Thereafter, the amount of the consolation prize isreset to its original amount, block 57. If either the grand prize or theconsolation prize is won, a new secret combination is generated, block58. The winnings and new secret combination is also communicated withall other gaming locations, block 59.

In another embodiment, if the grand prize is won, only the grand prizeis reset and the consolation prize continues to progress, in which casethe new value of the grand prize may be lower than the value of theconsolation prize. In some cases, it may be desirable to always maintaina larger grand prize than the consolation prize. Therefore, someembodiments of the present invention may be configured to switch to theamounts of the grand prize and consolation whenever the consolationprize exceeds the value of the grand prize. In a further embodiment, thepresent invention may be configured to make adjustments to the amountsof the grand prize and the consolation prize if the amount of the grandprize substantially exceeds the amount of the consolation prize. In yetanother embodiment, the promoter is allowed to modify the amounts of theprizes.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, it may be desiredto reveal one component of the secret combination periodically in orderto increase player interest in the game by making it easier for theplayers to correctly guess the secret combination. FIGS. 9A-9E show anexemplary embodiment of a secret combination having one element revealedperiodically, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.FIG. 9A depicts an exemplary embodiment where the secret combinationcomprises a 6-element code consisting of elements (a1) through (a6). Asshown in FIG. 9B, when the secret combination is first generated, allthe six elements of the secret combination are concealed. One element ofthe combination may be revealed after a predefined period, e.g. onemonth, dropping the odds of winning the grand prize. FIG. 9C depicts anexample where element (a1) has been revealed after the first month.Similarly, a second element can be revealed after the second month,increasing the odds of winning the grand prize even further. FIG. 9Ddepicts an example where element (a3) has been revealed after the secondmonth. Further, a third element can be revealed after the third month,increasing the winning odds still further. FIG. 9E depicts an examplewhere element (a4) has been revealed after the third month. Under thisarrangement, in each month the players have a better chance of winningthe grand prize or the consolation prize than the previous month.However, once either of the bonus prizes is won, a new secretcombination is generated, the new combination having all its elementsconcealed.

There are various methods of financing the bonus prize. In oneembodiment, financing is provided by keeping a count of the number ofguesses that have been taken at the vault's secret combination within acertain period at each location. This function can be handled by thelocal computer 20, the input device 24, or other means of keepingaccount of the number of guesses taken at the secret combination.Alternatively, each gaming station 22 may include a counter that keepstrack of the number of times a guess at the secret combination has beentaken from that game station within a given period. Based on the countfrom each game station, the total number of guesses at the secretcombination for that location is calculated at the end of the period.Then, at the end of each period, each location will contribute money tothe vault based the number of guesses taken within that location. In anexemplary embodiment, the owner of a gaming location may agree tocontribute a certain amount. For example, per guess to the bonus prize.If two hundred players qualify for the bonus game within a month, thatlocation has to contribute accordingly to the vault at the end of thatmonth.

The vault provides incentives for owners of gaming locations toparticipate in the promotion plan in various ways. Primarily, the vaultprovides such incentive by drawing large crowds to these locations inhopes of winning the large vault prizes. In the embodiment where acomponent of the combination is revealed periodically, players haverelatively good odds of winning large prizes as the game progresseswithout a winning guess. Therefore, large crowds can be attracted to thegaming locations that allow them to participate in the bonus game.

In one embodiment, a further incentive is provided for the owners ofgaming locations to participate in the promotion plan. When a playerwins a vault prize, the gaming location where the prize was won isawarded an additional percentage of the prize won. In an exemplaryembodiment, for each prize won at a gaming location, that gaminglocation is awarded thirty percent of the amount of the prize as anadditional bonus. This provides a further incentive to the owners ofgaming locations to participate in the promotion plan and implement thebonus game within their gaming locations.

1. A method of providing a bonus game of chance in conjunction with oneor more base games of chance over one or more gaming locations, thebonus game being associated with a vault comprising a bonus prize and asecret combination of discrete elements, the method comprising:qualifying a player to participate in the bonus game upon meeting atleast one winning criterion on the base game of chance; providing aninput device to be presented to the player, wherein the player inputs aguess at the secret combination; receiving the player guess at thesecret combination through the input device; and determining if thebonus prize is won based on the secret combination, the player guess,and a matching criteria associated with the secret combination.
 2. Thegaming method of claim 1, further comprising: qualifying the player toparticipate in the bonus game if the player meets a minimum wagerrequirement in the base game.
 3. The gaming method of claim 1, whereinthe receiving the player guess comprises: activating the input devicefor entry of one guess at the secret combination; and deactivating theinput device after receiving the player guess at the secret combination.4. The gaming method of claim 1, further comprising: increasing anamount of the bonus prize periodically; and resetting the bonus prize toan initial value after the bonus prize is won.
 5. The gaming method ofclaim 4, wherein the increasing an amount step includes increasing theamount of the bonus prize by a predetermined amount at predeterminedtime periods.
 6. The gaming method of claim 1, further comprising:defining the matching criteria in terms of at least one of a number ofelements of the secret combination that must match the player guess oran order in which the elements of the secret combination must match theplayer guess.
 7. The gaming method of claim 6, wherein the matchingcriteria comprises at least one of: correctly guessing every element ofthe secret combination in sequence, correctly guessing every element ofthe secret combination in any order, correctly guessing a portion of thesecret combination in sequence, or correctly guessing a portion of thesecret combination in any order.
 8. The gaming method of claim 1,further comprising revealing an element of the secret combinationperiodically to increase the probability of satisfaction of the matchingcriteria.
 9. The gaming method of claim 1, wherein the at least oneprize comprises a first prize being associated with a first matchingcriteria and a second prize being associated with a second matchingcriteria.
 10. The gaming method of claim 9, wherein the second prizeincludes a smaller amount than the larger prize and the second matchingcriteria has a higher probability of satisfaction than the firstmatching criteria.
 11. The gaming method of claim 10, wherein the stepof determining if a prize is won comprising: resetting both the firstand the second prizes if the first prize is won based on the firstmatching criteria; and resetting only the second prize if the secondprize is won based on the second matching criteria.
 12. The gamingmethod of claim 1, further comprising: keeping a count of the number ofguesses taken at the secret combination at each of the one or moregaming locations within a predetermined time period; and receiving anamount of contribution from the respective gaming location based on thecount.
 13. A gaming system for providing a bonus game of chance inconjunction with a plurality of base games of chance over a plurality ofgaming locations, the bonus game being associated with a vaultcomprising a bonus prize and a secret combination of discrete elements,the system comprising: a central bonus mainframe coupled to a pluralityof local computers at the plurality of gaming locations, each of theplurality of local computers being coupled to a plurality of gamestations within the respective gaming location and being adapted toqualify a player to participate in the bonus game upon meeting at leastone winning criterion on the base game of chance; and a plurality ofinput devices, each provided within one of the gaming locations, eachinput device being coupled to the central bonus mainframe through anetwork and being adapted to receive a player guess at the secretcombination from the player; wherein the central bonus mainframedetermines if the bonus prize is won based on the secret combination,the player guess, and a matching criteria associated with the secretcombination.
 14. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the at least onegame station comprises a slot machine embodying a game of video pokerand the at least one winning criterion comprises at least one of a threeof a kind, a straight, a flush, a full house, a four of a kind, astraight flush, or a royal flush.
 15. The gaming system of claim 13,further comprising a plurality of output interfaces provided within thegaming locations, each output device being coupled to the central bonusmainframe and being adapted to display at least one of a machine ID or amachine location of the game station on which a player qualifies toparticipate in the bonus game.
 16. The gaming system of claim 13,wherein the input device is activated for one guess at the secretcombination and again deactivated after receipt of the player guess atthe secret combination from the player.
 17. The gaming system of claim13, wherein the input device comprises a portable pad adapted to bepresented to the player to input the player guess at the secretcombination.
 18. The gaming system of claim 13, further comprising aplurality of display screens, each provided on one of plurality of gamestations, the display screen being adapted to display at least one ofinformation about the bonus game, a current bonus prize amount orinformation about the secret combination.
 19. A method of promotinggaming, comprising: providing a bonus game of chance in conjunction witha plurality of base games of chance over a plurality of gaminglocations, the bonus game being associated with a vault comprising abonus prize and a secret combination of discrete elements: qualifying aplayer to participate in the bonus game upon meeting at least onewinning criterion on the base game of chance; providing an input deviceto be presented to the player, wherein the player inputs a guess at thesecret combination; receiving the player guess at the secret combinationthrough the input device; and determining if the bonus prize is wonbased on the secret combination, the player guess, and a matchingcriteria associated with the secret combination.
 20. The method of claim19, further comprising: keeping a count of the number of guesses takenat the secret combination at each of the one or more gaming locationswithin a predetermined time period; and receiving an amount ofcontribution from the respective gaming location based on the count.